Police were told a target range had been set up at the home of a gunman who would go on to kill two women in rural Whangarei, but wrote it off as a "tenancy matter".

Shooter Quinn Patterson, 55, was visited by an officer last month following complaints he had built an illegal structure on the property he was renting on Mount Tiger Road, police confirmed on Saturday.

"The officer offered to visit the property and was told that the structure was a platform to be used for target practice," police said.

“After discussion with Patterson, and with no other relevant information the officer was aware of about Patterson, or activity at the property, he was satisfied it was a tenancy matter that required no further action by police."

On Wednesday morning, Mr Patterson shot and killed Wendy Campbell, 60, and her daughter, Natanya, 37, while they were conducting a property inspection of the home.

Contractor Jeff Pipe was also shot and wounded and has been recovering in Whangarei Hospital.